Just for a season? I wouldn't even bother with the Sta-bil. Fill it at least half way and forget about it.
Storing Vette for winter, full tank or empty tank?
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Originally Posted By: Virtuoso
Just for a season? I wouldn't even bother with the Sta-bil. Fill it at least half way and forget about it.
Hes right:
http://www.chevron.com/products/prodserv/fuels/technical_safety_bulletins/longterm_gasoline.aspx
Just for a season? I wouldn't even bother with the Sta-bil. Fill it at least half way and forget about it.
Hes right:
http://www.chevron.com/products/prodserv/fuels/technical_safety_bulletins/longterm_gasoline.aspx
I'd fill it to the top and add Sta-bil. That's what we do on the boat, and even with ethanol gas, no issues in the spring. The reason for the full tank is condensation. You'll get less in a full tank, and there's more fuel to absorb it, so the overall water percentage is much lower come springtime.
For that short duration, I'd just leave what ever fuel is in it when you put it up and not worry about it. The one thing I'd be concerned would be getting 100% fuel in it, not that ethanol junk. Don't believe me????? Ask just about any boat owner that winterizes their boat for the winter. I've had my boat set up for over one year and it fired up on the first turn.
I would just park the thing and leave it alone.
I have had cars sit for 5 years with no issue.
I have had cars sit for 5 years with no issue.
Store it with 1/4 tank with added stablizer. Run the engine to get the treated fuel in the fuel system.
You're biggest enemy is the E10 seperating. Atleast with less gas in the tank you can top off with fresh gas and drive on...a full tank of bad gas would take awhile to burn. Also, this way you remove the chance of having winter gas in the tank in the summer or vice versa.
When a nice day comes - drive it and replace the fuel you used and repeat.
You're biggest enemy is the E10 seperating. Atleast with less gas in the tank you can top off with fresh gas and drive on...a full tank of bad gas would take awhile to burn. Also, this way you remove the chance of having winter gas in the tank in the summer or vice versa.
When a nice day comes - drive it and replace the fuel you used and repeat.
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
Store it with 1/4 tank with added stablizer. Run the engine to get the treated fuel in the fuel system.
You're biggest enemy is the E10 seperating.
He has already stated he is using non-ethanol fuel, so we can put that Boogie-man to rest...
Store it with 1/4 tank with added stablizer. Run the engine to get the treated fuel in the fuel system.
You're biggest enemy is the E10 seperating.
He has already stated he is using non-ethanol fuel, so we can put that Boogie-man to rest...
Originally Posted By: Rand
I'd fill it full and put double the stabil dose in it.
+1
Full tanks leave no air for condensation to happen.
Ive never had a fuel line "freeze up" i have had a car that was on E all winter. All tha does is beat up the fuel pump a bit, but for having a car with not much ga sonly in the line.. yeah, less air means less condensation.
Also, substitute 2 cans SeaFoam for StaBil.
Next question: How long does it take for gas to go "sour?" SeaFoam helps there too. (Make sure you dont keep that gas in too, too long.)
Quote:
I would just park the thing and leave it alone.
I have had cars sit for 5 years with no issue.
How full the tank, how new the battery. ? (I too have heard of cars "fire right up on the first turn" after sitting about that long, no disconnecting anything. As long as there isnt a drain on the battery.........)
I'd fill it full and put double the stabil dose in it.
+1
Full tanks leave no air for condensation to happen.
Ive never had a fuel line "freeze up" i have had a car that was on E all winter. All tha does is beat up the fuel pump a bit, but for having a car with not much ga sonly in the line.. yeah, less air means less condensation.
Also, substitute 2 cans SeaFoam for StaBil.
Next question: How long does it take for gas to go "sour?" SeaFoam helps there too. (Make sure you dont keep that gas in too, too long.)
Quote:
I would just park the thing and leave it alone.
I have had cars sit for 5 years with no issue.
How full the tank, how new the battery. ? (I too have heard of cars "fire right up on the first turn" after sitting about that long, no disconnecting anything. As long as there isnt a drain on the battery.........)
Problem with modern gas is it sucks, its full of ethanol. I'd run it right down to a couple of gallons and load them up with stabilizer.
In the spring fill up with 93 and run the heck out of it.
In the spring fill up with 93 and run the heck out of it.
I store 2 cars over winter which amounts to about 3 or 4 months. I just fill them up, put the battery tenders on, and cover em. If I were going 6mo. I'd probably add stabil.
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Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Problem with modern gas is it sucks, its full of ethanol. I'd run it right down to a couple of gallons and load them up with stabilizer.
He has stated he is useing ethanol free Shell 91...why does this keep coming back...
Problem with modern gas is it sucks, its full of ethanol. I'd run it right down to a couple of gallons and load them up with stabilizer.
He has stated he is useing ethanol free Shell 91...why does this keep coming back...
Originally Posted By: Bluestream
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Problem with modern gas is it sucks, its full of ethanol. I'd run it right down to a couple of gallons and load them up with stabilizer.
He has stated he is useing ethanol free Shell 91...why does this keep coming back...
Not so sure its "Ethanol free," not sure they can sell anything non-Ethanol anymore. This in the USA at least.
Combat Ethanol deterioration with SeaFoam.
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Problem with modern gas is it sucks, its full of ethanol. I'd run it right down to a couple of gallons and load them up with stabilizer.
He has stated he is useing ethanol free Shell 91...why does this keep coming back...
Not so sure its "Ethanol free," not sure they can sell anything non-Ethanol anymore. This in the USA at least.
Combat Ethanol deterioration with SeaFoam.
Patman is in Toronto, and Shell 91 is ethanol free
So the assumption is that fresh gas has no moisture in it?
I doubt it seriously. There is always moisture in the gas. Question is how much.
I would treat the fresh gas with gas treatment (stabil)and upper cylinder lub, run the car for warm up, park it and you are done.
In last 35 years I have followed this to my bikes, and a few cars, generators and lawn equipments. So far so good.
I doubt it seriously. There is always moisture in the gas. Question is how much.
I would treat the fresh gas with gas treatment (stabil)and upper cylinder lub, run the car for warm up, park it and you are done.
In last 35 years I have followed this to my bikes, and a few cars, generators and lawn equipments. So far so good.
Sta-Bil and a full tank.
Patman
Staff member
I think what I'm probably going to end up doing is store it with 3/4 of a tank of gas. I'm not going to bother adding Stabil, as I truly don't think it's necessary for only a 3-4 month period of time. And I hate adding additives to my fuel.
If we get a mild winter here and the roads don't get salted too heavily (or we get a few rain storms here and there to clean things up) I might even leave the car fully insured all winter long and then I can take it out for a good drive every week or two. Whenever I do that, I'll just keep topping up the tank with a little bit of fresh fuel. But if it ends up that I can't drive it at all, and it's stored with 3/4 of a tank of gas, at least then when I bring it out in the spring I can immediately top it up with a decent dose of fresh fuel.
If we get a mild winter here and the roads don't get salted too heavily (or we get a few rain storms here and there to clean things up) I might even leave the car fully insured all winter long and then I can take it out for a good drive every week or two. Whenever I do that, I'll just keep topping up the tank with a little bit of fresh fuel. But if it ends up that I can't drive it at all, and it's stored with 3/4 of a tank of gas, at least then when I bring it out in the spring I can immediately top it up with a decent dose of fresh fuel.
You are worried about paying for a full tank of gas but you want to leave insurance on it over the winter, just leave comprehensive coverage (fire and theft) on, that should save you several hundred dollars, and do not run it all winter, that way it is stored dry and stays dry, especially in your exhaust pipes. And I am for filling the tank. Just my 2 cents....
Patman
Staff member
It looks like I'm going to be storing it with a full tank, as I have been topping up the tank a little bit at a time every time I've driven it lately, and it is nice out here today so I took it out for a drive and ended up adding $19 worth of gas to it, which ended up completely filling it up. They say it's going to be a mild December here, and are predicting no major storms, so I'm hoping to get to take it out once a week for this entire month, and each time I drive it I will top up the tank. I was more worried about having the gas lose it's octane if it was sitting for 4 months or more, but at this point now it doesn't look like the car will have to sit for anywhere near that long, so the gas should be fine. I'm hoping to get lucky and be able to drive it a few times a month for the entire winter! Then it never would really be "in storage" at all. Cars need to be exercised, I don't like the thought of it just sitting for 3-4 months straight, and I refuse to start the engine unless going to get the oil good and hot from taking it on a long drive.
Patman, I would still add the Stabil and fill it with shell 91. Drive it until the gas/Stabil mix is in the fuel system. Now you are ready for a once in a while drive or the worst winter on record. Our weathermen can't predict whether it will rain next Wednesday. Be ready for what ever comes your way.
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